The '''Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia''', headquartered in Sydney, is an [[eparchy]] of the [[Church of Constantinople]]. Its current [[primate]] is His Eminence [[Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia|Stylianos (Harkianakis)]], [[Archbishop]] of Australia and [[Exarchate|Exarch]] of Oceania.

The '''Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia''', headquartered in Sydney, is an [[eparchy]] of the [[Church of Constantinople]]. Its current [[primate]] is His Eminence [[Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia|Stylianos (Harkianakis)]], [[Archbishop]] of Australia and [[Exarchate|Exarch]] of Oceania.

== History ==

== History ==

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The first [[priest]] to serve in Australia was [[Archimandrite]] Dorotheos Bakaliaros around 1896. In 1898 the first Greek Orthodox parish was established, named after the [[Holy Trinity]]. Communities were originally supplied with priests from the [[Church of Jerusalem]], and later the [[Church of Greece]], and there was no attempt to organise the communities into a [[diocese]].

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:''For more detailed history before 1974, See [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]]''.

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Before 1908, there were two multi-ethnic parishes in Australia, under the omophorion of the [[Church of Jerusalem]]; but, in 1908, jurisdiction over Australia was transferred to the newly-recognised [[Church of Greece]]. In 1924, the parishes - by now, Greek in character as well as in name - were formed into a metropolis under the [[Church of Constantinople]]. In 1959, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Australia and New Zealand was elevated to Archdiocese, and Metropolitan Ezekiel elevated to Archbishop with it. In 1970, due to the growing size and needs of the Archdiocese, Australia and New Zealand were split into the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and the [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand]].

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In 1924, the Greek Orthodox parishes in Australia were transferred to the [[Church of Constantinople]], who sent [[Christoforos (Knitis) of Samos|Christoforos (Knitis)]] to be the first [[metropolitan]] of Australia and New Zealand. He served until 1929 when he returned to Samos, his homeland. The next metropolitan was [[Timotheos (Evangelinidis) of Rhodes|Timotheos (Evangelinidis)]], and he arrived in 26 January, 1932, serving until he was elected metropolitan of Rhodes in 1947. He was replaced by [[Theophylactos (Papathanasopoulos) of Australia and New Zealand|Theophylactos (Papathanasopoulos)]], who served until his death in a car crash on 2 August, 1958. [[Ezekiel (Tsoukalas) of Pisidia|Ezekiel (Tsoukalas)]], then an assistant [[bishop]] in [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America|America]], was elected metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand in February 1959, and arrived on 2 April 1959.

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In 1974 Abp Ezekiel was promoted to the Metropolis of Pisidia, and the current Archbishop, [[Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia|Stylianos (Harkianakis)]], was elected on 13 February 1974 and enthroned on 26 April, 1975. In 1977, Fr Ezekiel was consecrated to the episcopacy, becoming the titular bishop of Dervis. In 1979, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia was a founding member of the [[Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Churches in Australia]], with its archbishop being made permanent chairman of SCCOCA.

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On 1 September of that year, the [[Metropolis]] of Australia and New Zealand was elevated to [[Archdiocese]], and Ezekiel to Archbishop. Later, in 1970, the Holy Synod of the [[Church of Constantinople]] separated New Zealand from Australia, leaving the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and the [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand]]. In 1974 Ezekiel was promoted to the Metropolis of Pisidia, and the current Archbishop, [[Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia|Stylianos (Harkianakis)]], was elected on 13 February 1974 and enthroned on 26 April, 1975.

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In 1982, the Archdiocese founded [[St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College (Sydney, Australia)|St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College]] in Sydney, with Archbishop Stylianos as the first dean. In 1991, Fr Seraphim was consecrated to the episcopacy, as titular bishop of Apollonias. In 2001, Fr Nikandros (Palyvos) was consecrated to the episcopacy, as titular bishop of Dorileou.

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== Recent History ==

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The first new parish for many years, St Therapon in Warhoonga, northern Sydney, began services in February 2006. Soon after, [[St. Andrew's Orthodox Press]] published their first book, ''The Divine Liturgy of Our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom'', a bilingual text. See [[#Organisations of the Archdiocese|below]]

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In 2005, the Greek Orthodox Parish-Community of St George, Hobart, has suffered trauma due to the parish council deciding to break ties with the Archdiocese. The church building has gone to those ejected from the Archdiocese of Australia and are now affiliated with the Autonomous Greek Orthodox Church of America and Australia (considered to be schismatic by the Patriarchate of Constantinople). The priest in Hobart, Fr Timothy Evangelinidis, remains under the Archdiocese and has begun a new parish of St George in Hobart.

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In early February 2006 the new parish of St. Therapon in Warhoonga, in the northern suburbs of Sydney, celebrated their first Divine Liturgy.

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[[St. Andrew's Orthodox Press]] recently (Feb-Mar 2006) published their first book, ''The Divine Liturgy of Our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom'', a bilingual text. See [[#Organisations of the Archdiocese|below]].

Archimandrite [[Iakovos (Tsigounis)]] was elected to be an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Australia, with the title of Bishop of Militoupoleos. He will be the first Australian-born bishop to served in the Archdiocese, and the first graduate of St Andrew's Theological College to be made a bishop.

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{{orthodoxyinaustralia}}

==Ecclesiastical Organisation==

==Ecclesiastical Organisation==

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The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia is treated as one single archdiocese with five archdiocesan districts: [[List of parishes in New South Wales|New South Wales]] and the [[List of parishes in the Australian Capital Territory|Australian Capital Territory]]; [[List of parishes in Victoria|Victoria]] and [[List of parishes in Tasmania|Tasmania]]; [[List of parishes in South Australia|South Australia]] and the [[List of parishes in the Northern Territory|Northern Territory]]; [[List of parishes in Queensland|Queensland]] and New Guinea; and [[List of parishes in Western Australia|Western Australia]]. To assist the archbishop, he has a number of assistant bishops - currently three, but in previous times as many as five, overseeing the 118 [[parish]]es and communities across Australia.

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The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia is treated as one single archdiocese with five archdiocesan districts: [[List of parishes in New South Wales|New South Wales]] and the [[List of parishes in the Australian Capital Territory|Australian Capital Territory]]; [[List of parishes in Victoria|Victoria]] and [[List of parishes in Tasmania|Tasmania]]; [[List of parishes in South Australia|South Australia]] and the [[List of parishes in the Northern Territory|Northern Territory]]; [[List of parishes in Queensland|Queensland]] and New Guinea; and [[List of parishes in Western Australia|Western Australia]]. To assist the archbishop, he has a number of assistant bishops - currently three, but in previous times as many as five - overseeing the 118 [[parish]]es and communities across Australia.

The Archdiocese also includes 6 [[monasticism|monasteries]]. The largest male monastery is the Holy [[Monastery of Pantanassa (Mangrove, Australia)|Monastery of Pantanassa]] on the Central Coast of New South Wales, and the largest female monastery is the Holy [[Monastery of Gorgoepikoos (Geelong, Australia)|Monastery of Gorgoepikoos]] in Geelong, Victoria.

The Archdiocese also includes 6 [[monasticism|monasteries]]. The largest male monastery is the Holy [[Monastery of Pantanassa (Mangrove, Australia)|Monastery of Pantanassa]] on the Central Coast of New South Wales, and the largest female monastery is the Holy [[Monastery of Gorgoepikoos (Geelong, Australia)|Monastery of Gorgoepikoos]] in Geelong, Victoria.

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The Archdiocese has numerous successful organisations under its wings. Each of these organisations and schools have been built by donations of the faithful and by contributions by the Australian government.

The Archdiocese has numerous successful organisations under its wings. Each of these organisations and schools have been built by donations of the faithful and by contributions by the Australian government.

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In 1982, the Archdiocese began the [[St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College (Sydney, Australia)|St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College]] in Sydney as a part of the School of Divinity of the University of Sydney. Archbishop Stylianos currently serves as the dean of St. Andrew's, while Bishop Seraphim serves as sub-dean. As the lone Orthodox Theological College in Australasia, it often accepts students of other jurisdictions. Approximately 100 students have graduated from St. Andrew's since its inception; of these, about 25 have been ordained as clergy, while others have become teachers in the Churches schools, catechists, chanters, or have continued into postgraduate studies. Under the auspices of the College is the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia Byzantine Music School]], where students of the college and any other interested laity may learn Byzantine chanting in Greek.

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===Educational Institutions===

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In 1982, the Archdiocese began the [[St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College (Sydney, Australia)|St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College]] in Sydney as a part of the School of Divinity of the University of Sydney. Archbishop Stylianos currently serves as the dean of St. Andrew's, while Bishop Seraphim serves as sub-dean. As the lone Orthodox Theological College in Australasia, it often accepts students of other jurisdictions.

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[[Image:standrewspress.jpg|left|thumb|Logo of St Andrew's Orthodox Press]][[St Andrew's Orthodox Press]], while established to publish the VEMA newspaper, has recently begun publishing books. The first book, ''The Divine Liturgy of Our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom'', has within it the [[Divine Liturgy]], and also the dismissal hymns for Sundays and major feasts, prayers for the reception of Holy Communion, and the services of the Blessing of Loaves and Memorials. This is a bi-lingual edition, translated from the Greek by the Committee on the Translation of Liturgical Texts (chaired by Dr John Lee) into dignified modern English, with each language appearing on facing pages. Contact: sapress@greekorthodox.org.au

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The Archdiocese boasts seven bilingual colleges around Australia, including primary and secondary education, offered to both children of the Church and Australians alike. Each school has between 650-1000 students who enjoy education in all disciplines, including Greek language, culture and the Orthodox Christian faith.

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[[St. Basil's Homes (Australia)|St. Basil's Homes for the Aged]], operate around Australia in each capital city since 1969 caring for all needs of the aged in their numorous facilities as well as delivering care into the homes of the Greeks under a variety of community care programs. St. Basil's cares for about 1200 aged Greeks in Australia. In 2006 St. Basil's commissioned a new $30 million state of the art facility in Miranda to the south of Syndey.

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===Byzantine Chanting===

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Byzantine chanting is a key part of liturgical services in the Archdiocese. Two performance choirs have been formed: the [[Byzantine Ecclesiastical Choir "Saint John of Damascus"]] in Adelaide under [[Elias Frangoulis]], the Archon Protopsaltis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia; and the [[Australian Byzantine Choir]] in Sydney, now under George Combis, which in addition to performing, first provided a place for Sydney's chanters to be taught, and then provided two of the three teachers for the Archdiocesan [[School of Byzantine Music]], established in 2005 under the auspices of Saint Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College. Both choirs, and the school, teach and perform Byzantine chanting in Greek.

[[Image:Estia Foundation Logo.jpg|right|thumb|Logo of the Estia Foundation of Australia]]The [[Estia Foundation of Australia]] offers respite to those caring for children and adults with disabilities, and currently cares for over 100 young people. A related organisation, the [[Provicare Foundation]], has its main focus on drug and alcohol prevention, with telephone councelling and client visits.

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===Publishing Institutions===

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[[St. Andrew's Orthodox Press|St Andrew's Orthodox Press]], established to publish the ''[[To Vema|TO VEMA]]'' newspaper [http://www.tovema.com.au], ''[[St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College (Sydney, Australia)#Phronema|Phronema]]'' and ''[[The Voice of Orthodoxy]]'', has recently begun publishing books. The first book, a more permanent translation of the [[Divine Liturgy]], is a sign of more works to come, including publications by faculty of the Theological College.

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The Archdiocese boasts seven bilingual colleges around Australia, including primary and secondary education, offered to both children of the Church and Australians alike. Each school has between 650-1000 students who enjoy education in all disciplines, including Greek language, culture and the Orthodox Christian faith.

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===Philanthropic Institutions===

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[[St. Basil's Homes (Australia)]], operate around Australia in each capital city since 1969 caring for all needs of the aged in their numorous facilities as well as delivering care into the homes of the Greeks under a variety of community care programs. St. Basil's cares for about 1200 aged Greeks in Australia. In 2006 St. Basil's commissioned a new $34 million state of the art facility in Miranda to the south of Sydney.

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[[Image:Estia Foundation Logo.jpg|right|thumb|Logo of the Estia Foundation of Australia]]The [[Estia Foundation of Australia]] offers respite to those caring for children and adults with disabilities, and currently cares for over 100 young people. A related organisation, the [[Provicare Foundation]], has its main focus on drug and alcohol prevention, with telephone councelling and client visits.

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Each parish in the archdiocese hosts any number of the following activities besides their usual worship program: Child Care centres, Greek language school, Companionship groups for the aged, infant play groups, teenagers groups, Bible Study, Orthodox Lecture series, Iconography courses, Church Chanting classes, Catechisms schools and social clubs.

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===Parish-run Organisations===

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Each parish in the archdiocese hosts any number of the following activities besides their usual worship and pastoral program. These can include: child care centres, Greek language school, companionship groups for the aged, infant play groups, teenagers groups, Bible study, Orthodox lecture series, iconography courses, Byzantine chanting classes, catechism schools, social clubs and meals for the poor.

The Greek Welfare Centres, operating for over 35 years under government funding and charity in each capital city and other cities of Australia. The 150 staff of the Greek Welfare Centres around Australia offer a large variety of programs and catering for the enormous varience in the needs of the hundreds of clients that flow throught their offices and their satellite centres each week.

The Greek Welfare Centres, operating for over 35 years under government funding and charity in each capital city and other cities of Australia. The 150 staff of the Greek Welfare Centres around Australia offer a large variety of programs and catering for the enormous varience in the needs of the hundreds of clients that flow throught their offices and their satellite centres each week.

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The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia is also a founding member of the [[SCCOCA|Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Churches in Australia]].

* Bishop [[Ezekiel of Dervis|Ezekiel]] of Dervis. Responsible for the Second Archdiocesan District of [[List of parishes in Victoria|Victoria]] and [[List of parishes in Tasmania|Tasmania]] (45 parishes and communities).

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* Bishop [[Seraphim (Ginis) of Apollonias|Seraphim (Ginis)]] of Apollonias. Responsible for the First Archdiocesan District of [[List of parishes in New South Wales|New South Wales]] and the [[List of parishes in the Australian Capital Territory|Australian Capital Territory]] (35 parishes and communities).

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* The First Archdiocesan District of [[Greek Orthodox Churches in New South Wales|New South Wales]] and the [[List of parishes in the Australian Capital Territory|Australian Capital Territory]] (38 parishes and communities). Bishop [[Seraphim (Ginis) of Apollonias|Seraphim]] of Apollonias is responsible for this district.

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* Bishop [[Nikandros (Palyvos) of Dorileou|Nikandros (Palyvos)]] of Dorileou. Responsible for the Third Archdiocesan District of [[List of parishes in South Australia|South Australia]] and the [[List of parishes in the Northern Territory|Northern Territory]] (20 parishes and communities), and the Fifth Archdiocesan District of [[List of parishes in Western Australia|Western Australia]] (6 parishes and communities).

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**The Archdiocesan Vicar-General for the Fourth Archdiocesan District of [[List of parishes in Queensland|Queensland]] and New Guinea (12 parishes and communities) is V. Rev. Fr. [[Dimitri Tsakas]], [[Archpriest|Economos]], and one of the parish priests of St George, Brisbane.

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* The Second Archdiocesan District of [[List of parishes in Victoria|Victoria]] and [[List of parishes in Tasmania|Tasmania]] (46 parishes and communities). Bishops [[Ezekiel (Kefalas) of Dervis|Ezekiel]] of Dervis and Bishop [[Iakovos (Tsigounis) of Militoupolis|Iakovos]] of Militoupolis are responsible for this district

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* The Third Archdiocesan District of [[List of parishes in South Australia|South Australia]] and the [[List of parishes in the Northern Territory|Northern Territory]] (16 parishes and communities). Bishop [[Nikandros (Palyvos) of Dorileou|Nikandros]] of Dorileou is responsible for this district.

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* The Fourth Archdiocesan District of [[List of parishes in Queensland|Queensland]] (10 parishes and communities) Archdiocesan Vicar-General [[Dimitri Tsakas]], [[Archpriest|Economos]] is responsible for this district.

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* The Fifth Archdiocesan District of [[List of parishes in Western Australia|Western Australia]] (6 parishes and communities). Bishop [[Nikandros (Palyvos) of Dorileou|Nikandros]] of Dorileou is responsible for this district.

===Primates in Australia===

===Primates in Australia===

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== External links ==

== External links ==

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* [http://home.it.com.au/~jgrapsas/pages/main.htm Official Website of the Archdiocese]

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*[http://www.greekorthodox.org.au/ Official Website of the Archdiocese]

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* [http://www.patriarchate.org/ Official Website of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople]

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*[http://www.patriarchate.org/ Official Website of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople]

History

Before 1908, there were two multi-ethnic parishes in Australia, under the omophorion of the Church of Jerusalem; but, in 1908, jurisdiction over Australia was transferred to the newly-recognised Church of Greece. In 1924, the parishes - by now, Greek in character as well as in name - were formed into a metropolis under the Church of Constantinople. In 1959, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Australia and New Zealand was elevated to Archdiocese, and Metropolitan Ezekiel elevated to Archbishop with it. In 1970, due to the growing size and needs of the Archdiocese, Australia and New Zealand were split into the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand.

In 1974 Abp Ezekiel was promoted to the Metropolis of Pisidia, and the current Archbishop, Stylianos (Harkianakis), was elected on 13 February 1974 and enthroned on 26 April, 1975. In 1977, Fr Ezekiel was consecrated to the episcopacy, becoming the titular bishop of Dervis. In 1979, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia was a founding member of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Churches in Australia, with its archbishop being made permanent chairman of SCCOCA.

In 1982, the Archdiocese founded St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College in Sydney, with Archbishop Stylianos as the first dean. In 1991, Fr Seraphim was consecrated to the episcopacy, as titular bishop of Apollonias. In 2001, Fr Nikandros (Palyvos) was consecrated to the episcopacy, as titular bishop of Dorileou.

The first new parish for many years, St Therapon in Warhoonga, northern Sydney, began services in February 2006. Soon after, St. Andrew's Orthodox Press published their first book, The Divine Liturgy of Our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, a bilingual text. See below

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia

Recent History

Archimandrite Iakovos (Tsigounis) was elected to be an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Australia, with the title of Bishop of Militoupoleos. He will be the first Australian-born bishop to served in the Archdiocese, and the first graduate of St Andrew's Theological College to be made a bishop.

Organisations of the Archdiocese

The Archdiocese has numerous successful organisations under its wings. Each of these organisations and schools have been built by donations of the faithful and by contributions by the Australian government.

Educational Institutions

In 1982, the Archdiocese began the St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College in Sydney as a part of the School of Divinity of the University of Sydney. Archbishop Stylianos currently serves as the dean of St. Andrew's, while Bishop Seraphim serves as sub-dean. As the lone Orthodox Theological College in Australasia, it often accepts students of other jurisdictions.

The Archdiocese boasts seven bilingual colleges around Australia, including primary and secondary education, offered to both children of the Church and Australians alike. Each school has between 650-1000 students who enjoy education in all disciplines, including Greek language, culture and the Orthodox Christian faith.

Byzantine Chanting

Byzantine chanting is a key part of liturgical services in the Archdiocese. Two performance choirs have been formed: the Byzantine Ecclesiastical Choir "Saint John of Damascus" in Adelaide under Elias Frangoulis, the Archon Protopsaltis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia; and the Australian Byzantine Choir in Sydney, now under George Combis, which in addition to performing, first provided a place for Sydney's chanters to be taught, and then provided two of the three teachers for the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music, established in 2005 under the auspices of Saint Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College. Both choirs, and the school, teach and perform Byzantine chanting in Greek.

Philanthropic Institutions

St. Basil's Homes (Australia), operate around Australia in each capital city since 1969 caring for all needs of the aged in their numorous facilities as well as delivering care into the homes of the Greeks under a variety of community care programs. St. Basil's cares for about 1200 aged Greeks in Australia. In 2006 St. Basil's commissioned a new $34 million state of the art facility in Miranda to the south of Sydney.

Logo of the Estia Foundation of Australia

The Estia Foundation of Australia offers respite to those caring for children and adults with disabilities, and currently cares for over 100 young people. A related organisation, the Provicare Foundation, has its main focus on drug and alcohol prevention, with telephone councelling and client visits.

Parish-run Organisations

Each parish in the archdiocese hosts any number of the following activities besides their usual worship and pastoral program. These can include: child care centres, Greek language school, companionship groups for the aged, infant play groups, teenagers groups, Bible study, Orthodox lecture series, iconography courses, Byzantine chanting classes, catechism schools, social clubs and meals for the poor.

The Greek Welfare Centres, operating for over 35 years under government funding and charity in each capital city and other cities of Australia. The 150 staff of the Greek Welfare Centres around Australia offer a large variety of programs and catering for the enormous varience in the needs of the hundreds of clients that flow throught their offices and their satellite centres each week.